Ford Fusion wins 2013 'Green Car of Year' award at LA Auto Show

LOS ANGELES - Ford Motor Co, which has emphasized boosting the fuel economy of its lineup to attract car buyers, won a top "green car" award for its Fusion midsize sedan, making it the least expensive model yet to earn the title.

In the past, sales of green vehicles have been hampered by their relatively high price tags.

The Fusion, which starts at $21,700 for the gas-powered base model, won because it is offered in a wide range of powertrains, said Ron Cogan, editor of Green Car Journal, which gives out the annual award to recognize leadership in cutting emissions.

"It won by virtue of the fact that it offers an array of choices," Cogan said after announcing the award during the LA Auto Show on Thursday. "This is huge."

The second-largest U.S. automaker offers gas-powered, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. The Fusion hybrid is estimated to get 47 miles per gallon, although early tests by Consumer Reports magazine signal that the Fusion hybrid, like other hybrids that have been tested, may fall short of that figure.

A hybrid is an automobile with more than one power source, such as an electric motor and internal combustion engine or an electric motor with battery and fuel cells for energy storage.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said the company was expecting to see a wider range for fuel economy on its new generation of hybrids because it is not asking drivers to compromise on vehicle performance.

"If you want to drive for maximum fuel economy, the car has the tools. You can do it," Sherwood said. "If you want to drive 80 miles per hour on the highway you aren't going to get 47 miles per gallon."

All five finalists for the 2013 award are available to the mass market, underscoring the auto industry's ramped-up focus on boosting fuel economy over their entire lineup, not just in low-volume, specialized vehicles.

The finalists included the Dodge Dart Aero, a turbocharged version of Chrysler Group LLC's compact car, and Mazda's CX-5 SkyACTIV crossover, both of which start around $20,000.

The others were Toyota Motor Corp's subcompact hybrid, the Prius c, which starts at $18,950, and the Ford C-Max, which starts at $25,200 for the hybrid model.

Previous winners of the Green Car award have included General Motors Co's plug-in Chevrolet Volt, which costs just under $40,000, and Honda Motor Co's natural gas-powered Civic, which starts around $26,300.